LAGUNA HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB: PMCB), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing targeted cellular therapies for cancer and diabetes using its signature live-cell encapsulation technology, Cell-in-a-Box®, today announced that it recently met with its Oncology Advisory Board, which was formed to assist in optimizing and finalizing the clinical protocol and other clinical trial-related matters for PharmaCyte’s clinical trial in patients with locally advanced, non-metastatic, inoperable pancreatic cancer (LAPC).
Representatives from the Advisory Board and PharmaCyte participated in an in-depth teleconference and discussed a variety of clinical trial-related matters, most of which were designed to optimize the trial protocol and develop strategies to ensure that patient enrollment in the clinical trial can be maximized.
Oncologists from several major institutions across the U.S. are participants on the Advisory Board. These institutions include the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Duke University, the Mayo Clinic, the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Northwestern University, the University of California, San Francisco, the University of Southern California and the Cleveland Clinic.
Kenneth L. Waggoner, PharmaCyte’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are extremely grateful to those prominent oncologists who have agreed to join our Oncology Advisory Board to assist us in finalizing our clinical trial protocol and in sharing their views on how best to achieve our goal of making our therapy available to those patients who desperately need an effective treatment for LAPC. We received invaluable input from these experts in pancreatic cancer that should allow PharmaCyte to enter the clinic with the best possibility for success.”
About PharmaCyte Biotech
PharmaCyte Biotech is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing cellular therapies for cancer and diabetes based upon a proprietary cellulose-based live cell encapsulation technology known as “Cell-in-a-Box®.” This technology will be used as a platform upon which therapies for several types of cancer and diabetes are being developed.
PharmaCyte’s therapy for cancer involves encapsulating genetically engineered human cells that convert an inactive chemotherapy drug into its active or “cancer-killing” form. For pancreatic cancer, these encapsulated cells are implanted in the blood supply to the patient’s tumor as close as possible to the site of the tumor. Once implanted, a chemotherapy drug that is normally activated in the liver (ifosfamide) is given intravenously at one-third the normal dose. The ifosfamide is carried by the circulatory system to where the encapsulated cells have been implanted. When the ifosfamide flows through pores in the capsules, the live cells inside act as a “bio-artificial liver” and activate the chemotherapy drug at the site of the cancer. This “targeted chemotherapy” has proven effective and safe to use in past clinical trials and results in no treatment related side effects.
PharmaCyte’s therapy for Type 1 diabetes and insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes involves encapsulating a human cell line that has been genetically engineered to produce, store and release insulin in response to the levels of blood sugar in the human body. The encapsulation will be done using the Cell-in-a-Box® technology. Once the encapsulated cells are implanted in a diabetic patient, they will function as a “bio-artificial pancreas” for purposes of insulin production.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are generally statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "plans," "will," "outlook" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, assumptions and projections, and speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement because of new information or future events, except as otherwise required by law. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements due to the impact of numerous risk factors, many of which are discussed in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
More information about PharmaCyte Biotech can be found at www.PharmaCyte.com. Information may also be obtained by contacting PharmaCyte’s Investor Relations Department.
